To amend the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to establish a designation of state sponsor of wrongful or unlawful, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · October 11, 2024
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
This bill creates a new designation for countries that wrongfully or unlawfully detain Americans, similar to existing designations for state sponsors of terrorism. The Secretary of State can designate a country under this label if its government repeatedly detains U.S. citizens, fails to resolve detentions after being notified by the State Department, or actively supports such detention practices. Countries receiving this designation would face sanctions including visa restrictions on government officials and a ban on foreign aid, and the State Department would update travel warnings and work with airlines to warn travelers. The bill requires the Secretary of State to notify Congress within 30 days of any designation and allows the designation to be removed if the country demonstrates it will no longer support wrongful detention. The legislation amends the existing Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act to strengthen the government's response to what Congress views as a growing problem of countries using detention as a diplomatic tactic.
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